JUI-F chief pledged to address the concerns raised by Kabul with relevant authorities in Islamabad.
Fazal diplomatic mission in Kabul sparks hope for improved relations & regional stability. In a significant diplomatic move, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman met with Afghanistan‘s supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada in Kabul, marking a potential turning point in the strained relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The high-profile meeting focused on crucial issues, including the assurance of peaceful elections in Pakistan and efforts to resume talks with the banned outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
During the discussion, the Afghan government emphasized the need for Islamabad to play a role in eliminating the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) and urged the implementation of a visa-free policy on the Chaman border, along with a soft plan for the expulsion of refugees. The meeting addressed key concerns such as TTP activities, ISKP threats, border management, a lenient visa policy, and the refugee situation.
Sources revealed that the JUI-F chief pledged to address the concerns raised by Kabul with relevant authorities in Islamabad. However, Fazl stressed the importance of a ceasefire until peaceful elections in Pakistan. The meeting, scheduled by former Kandahar governor Haji Yousuf Wafa, is expected to have a positive impact on the tense relationship between the neighboring countries, which has been strained by Kabul’s perceived failure to curb TTP-sponsored attacks from across the border.
Maulana Fazl’s visit, accompanied by a delegation, is seen as an opportunity to leverage the influence of JUI-F to address the TTP issue, given the historical ties between Afghan Taliban members and seminaries run by the JUI-F. Observers believe that Pakistan could use the chief’s influence to facilitate dialogue and resolution.
The diplomatic mission, underway since January 7, has already seen a meeting between Fazl and some members of the former Quetta Shura in Kandahar, potentially paving the way for a short-term ceasefire with the TTP. The visit has also opened the possibility of a meeting with the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group.
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This unprecedented meeting between the JUI-F chief and the Afghan Taliban leader could be a crucial turning point in bilateral ties. Fazl was briefed on Pakistan’s stance before the visit, emphasizing that Kabul must choose between Pakistan and the TTP for the relationship to progress. The Afghan Taliban government’s reluctance to take on the TTP has been a point of contention, and the success of this diplomatic effort remains uncertain.
As the JUI-F chief concludes his visit, Pakistani policymakers eagerly await his briefing to determine the outcome of the historic meeting and its potential impact on regional stability. While some remain skeptical about a major breakthrough, the meeting signifies a last-ditch effort to address the complex issue of the TTP and foster improved relations between the two neighboring nations.
